ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nf6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. fxe5+0.20

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. fxe5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.203. fxe5 Nxe4 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Be2 Ng5 6. O-O Nxf3+ 7. Bxf3 O-O
  2. −0.033. Nf3 exf4 4. e5 Nh5 5. d4 d6 6. Qe2 d5 7. Nc3 Nc6
  3. −0.083. d3 exf4 4. Bxf4 Nc6 5. Be2 Bc5 6. Nc3 O-O 7. e5 Ne8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. fxe5 for White, continuing Nxe4 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Be2 Ng5 6. O-O Nxf3+ 7. Bxf3 O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (−0.03) and 3. d3 (−0.08).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.20: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense?
C30. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).